Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. are making an impact as rookies for the Atlanta Falcons, becoming only the 11th pair of defensive front players from the same team to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2000. The Falcons chose Walker with the 15th pick and Pearce with the 26th earlier this year.
The two players, both originally from North Carolina but having attended rival colleges—Walker at Georgia and Pearce at Tennessee—began building their relationship immediately after being drafted. They met in Charlotte before flying together to Atlanta on a team plane for their introduction to the Falcons organization.
“They’ve developed a relationship, which is not always given,” said Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich. “Especially guys that play the same position, both first-round picks, because sometimes there is a level of healthy and sometimes a level of unhealthy competition amongst guys like that. But I feel like they found that balance and they really complement each other in a lot of really cool ways.”
Pearce described his connection with Walker: “Ever since we loaded up the jet and landed in Atlanta, that’s been my guy.” Walker added, “I feel like we’re two compatible people. People might see us as polar opposites. But me and James really get along.”
Their teamwork has translated onto the field. In Weeks 9 and 10, they combined for key plays involving strip sacks and fumble recoveries against opposing quarterbacks Drake Maye (New England Patriots) and Daniel Jones (Indianapolis Colts). As Pearce put it: “He’ll be thunder one day; I’ll be lightning one day. I’ll be thunder one day; he’ll be lightning one day.” Walker responded: “Thunder and lightning. There you go.”
Both players are candidates for the NFL’s 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Each has recorded five sacks so far this season, tying them for most among first-year players heading into Week 14 games. Pearce ranks fourth among rookies with ten quarterback hits; Walker is tied for fifth with seven. According to Next Gen Stats, Pearce’s 31 pressures are second-most among rookies while Walker’s 20 place him seventh.
Next Gen Stats also show Pearce leads all rookie pass rushers (with at least 100 snaps) in pressure rate at 14.7 percent; Walker follows closely at fourth with an 11 percent rate.
“For them to have the success they’ve had so early, it’s exciting because they’re just scratching the surface — both of them,” Ulbrich said. “James is a guy that’s played that position for the vast majority of his life, and, obviously, he did it at Tennessee. Where ‘J Walk,’ this is still new to him, being primarily at one spot like he is.
“Both of them, they have so much potential.”
The Falcons have five games remaining this season beginning with Sunday’s matchup against Seattle Seahawks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Although making the playoffs remains difficult given their current record, both rookies are expected to remain central figures on defense for years to come.
“We’re brothers,” Walker said. “At the end of the day, we were brought in together and we’ll leave together.” Pearce added: “Stories are wrote like this.”
